I know I am probably setting myself up to get seriously flamed here, but IMHO, that is pretty ugly. I would love to get the opportunity to try one of his basses, as looks can be overlooked if it is a truly exceptional instrument, to a certain extent.

I just can't get where there is $10,000 worth of bass there. But, then again, I have never played one, so I should keep my mouth shut. It could very well be worth it to someone.

I kind of like this one, as far as appearance goes. Not sure a 37-inch scale would be my thing. Some of his basses I find hideous, some pretty, and a lot in between. (I don't think Claypool's rainbow bass is as cool looking as other people seem to find it. Yuck). I've been hearing he's stopped making basses for a long time now- did he finally actually stop 7-31-02, as the auction says?

I've always wanted to try a Carl Thompson. I talked to him many years ago when I was setting up a bass for tuning by 5ths. He was really nice and easy to talk to, but he wasn't quite as well known then. I imagine that he wont produce that many more basses at this point in his life. But that is so far out of reach price wise that I just can't see it.

Ah, the $10000000 bass has arrived. IMO, the most beautiful electric instrument ever made. I really don't understand how anyone could find it ugly, but oh well.

I've played several CT basses, and I will say right here that they were the best looking and sounding basses I've ever played. As well as being incredibly light! I'm afraid I don't have any sound clips however.

I thought I'd get my 2 cents in, since so many people are commenting on the price and so on.

I don't think this bass is intended for us, your average bass player. I personally think it will end up with a collector, someone who has been following Carl's career for 30 years and sees the value in owning a bass that is historically significant to Carl's operation. Aside from being the last one out of the Boerum Pl. shop, this is the first time Carl has made a bass like this, pulling out all the stops and making it exactly to his own specifications without a specific buyer in mind. Its very much like buying Carl's personal instrument, everything that he has come to learn in 30 years of building poured into one instrument. So, I kind of think whoever ends up with it won't be playing it all that much, but rather will be hanging on to it as a collector's item. I hate to even say it, but once Carl retires and leaves us (God forbid that's any time soon), the value of his instruments will most likely skyrocket. I wrote that description, and I mean it when I say that this bass will probably hold the same place in Carl's history (and music history in general) as the Rainbow bass.

Yes, I'm biased, so take it for what you will. But, I can definitely see the value in the bass. It certainly isn't for me, I don't have the means to obtain it. But, given the right circumstances I would feel good spending $10,000 on it.

I'm not saying "hey, pay $10K!" I'm just saying that there are people out there that will pay it, and this bass is more for them.